The Supreme Court this week agreed to decide whether a class-action lawsuit brought against Wal-Mart on behalf of between 500,000 and 1.5 million female workers can proceed. Has Wal-Mart discriminated against its female employees? Before that question is addressed, the Court must decide whether the claims of gender bias can be tied together. [In the Constitution]

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments this week in the case testing the constitutionality of California’s ban on same-sex marriage. The case, which many legal observers expect will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, has attracted national attention. At issue is Proposition 8, the state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which was approved by California voters in 2008. [In the Constitution]

In a speech that political observers described as a preview of his upcoming State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama this week called for more spending on education to increase innovation. The president’s annual address, an outgrowth of his constitutional requirement to report to Congress “from time to time,” is traditionally delivered to a joint session in January. [In the Constitution]

The Chiefs of the Army and Marines last week urged Congress not to repeal the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prevents gays from serving openly in the military. The recommendation came as the lame-duck Congress is deciding whether to act on President Obama’s request to repeal the ban. Will it come to a vote? [In the Constitution]

Texas will gain as many as four seats in Congress as a result of the reapportionment that will take place as a result of the 2010 U.S. Census. Under the Constitution, representation in Congress must be reapportioned every 10 years to conform to population changes. What impact will 2010 reapportionment have on party politics in the House? [In the Constitution]